Silver Springs Creamery opens retail store
Posted on 17. Feb, 2010 by Isaac Bonnell in Tips
By Isaac Bonnell
Three years after a devastating fire, Silver Springs Creamery in Lynden is back on its feet and in full production.
Owner Eric Sundstrom recently opened an onsite retail store to sell his goat and cow cheese, yogurt, ice cream and fresh milk. Now that the farm is back in full production, Sundstrom hopes the [...]
WSDA helps farmers with direct-sales businesses
Posted on 03. Feb, 2010 by Lance Henderson in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
Farmers who sell their agricultural and food products directly to consumers now have a new tool to help launch a business or expand into new products: the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) Small Farm & Direct Marketing Handbook.
Announced at the annual meeting of the Washington State Farmers Market Association in January, [...]
Co-op launches revolving loan program for farmers
Posted on 15. Jan, 2010 by Lance Henderson in News
By Lance Henderson
The Community Food Co-op’s Farm Fund recently received a $12,000 matching grant from the Sustainable Whatcom Fund of the Whatcom Community Foundation. Paired with donations from shoppers, the Farm Fund will be able to direct $18,000 to the creation of a new revolving loan fund for local farms committed to using sustainable practices. [...]
Northwest Washington Fair wins international award
Posted on 30. Dec, 2009 by Lance Henderson in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
The Northwest Washington Fair recently received a prestigious award for the Cargill Nutrena Small Animal Experience that made its debut in 2009.
The Northwest Washington Fair received an award for excellence from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions, which has more than 3,000 members worldwide. The Cargill Nutrena Small Animal Experience was [...]
Celebrate Thanksgiving with a local turkey
Posted on 05. Nov, 2009 by Isaac Bonnell in Features
Acme farmers Geoff and Anna Martin began raising heritage turkeys five years ago and now sell their birds in Whatcom and Skagit counties.
NWEcon expands relationship with ag biz center
Posted on 23. Oct, 2009 by Lance Henderson in News
By Lance Henderson
The Northwest Economic Council (NWEcon), formerly known as the Bellingham Whatcom Economic Development Council, has expanded its relationship with the Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC) in Whatcom County in an effort to bolster locally grown food businesses.
Jeff Voltz, the newly hired Whatcom County project manager for NABC and former general manager at the [...]
Rural Element update worries some property owners
Posted on 02. Oct, 2009 by Lance Henderson in Features
Proposed changes to Whatcom County’s zoning laws seek to ensure that urban sprawl does not reach rural land. But from a property owner’s perspective, the county is downzoning land and infringing on personal property rights.
State and federal energy grants spur local projects
Posted on 18. Sep, 2009 by Isaac Bonnell in Features
From manure digesters to fluorescent lighting, governments and utilities are investing a lot of money in energy efficiency.
Meat sales soar for local bison ranches
Posted on 31. Jul, 2009 by Isaac Bonnell in Features
Whatcom County isn’t exactly the Great Plains, but it’s home to a small population of bison.
Bellingham author opens Verde Specialty Foods
Posted on 07. Jul, 2009 by Lance Henderson in Tips
By Lance Henderson
Local food columnist and author Mary Ellen Carter recently started Verde Specialty Foods, a home business bottling olive oil and making hand-blended spices.
Carter said she was recently at a Slow Food event in San Francisco where she encountered a captivating American olive oil.
“I had never seen California as a source of olive oil, [...]
